Floral rack



May 9, 1933. c J, w rr 1,907,917

FLORAL RACK Filed Nov. 24, 1930 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES CLARENCE J. WHITE, PEORIA, ILLINOIS FLORAL RACK Application filed November 24, 1930. Serial Ho. 497,732.

This invention has reference to improvements in floral racks particularly of the type foruse by undertakers and funeral directors for displaying floral pieces at funeral serv- The invention has for an object, the pro- ,vision of a rack that while simple in construction and inconspicuous in appearance as 1s required in such devices, part thereof can be adjusted to diflerent positions with respect to the other part thereof for the best d1sposal and arrangement of a floral piece carried thereby.

Another object is to provide a rack wherein an upper portion or section of such rack can be supported in a position lying in the same plane with the main portion, or that can be supported in other positions lncluding a horizontal one.

Again, an object lies in the provision of a shelf portion capable of attachment to the rackat any desired position or location for use inthe disposal of a floral piece tothe best advantage in connection with the whole floral Z5 display.

In addition, the invention includes certain features of construction believed to be novel, and which will be pointed out in the following specification and shown in the appended drawing forming part hereof, and wherein:

ures 1 and 2, the same beingillustrated in a collapsed flat position as for storage or shipment. y

Figure 4shows in perspective a certain finger arrangement of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the same on a larger scale. 7

Figure 6 shows in perspective parts of a latch arrangement, and

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the same.

The main portion of the rack comprises in this instance a rectangular frame 1 bent into the form of a U, the leg extremities of which are recurved to create supporting feet 1, by preference merely, there being longitudinally and laterally extending rods 2 and 3 respectively serving to brace the frame, such lateral rods also serving to support certain portions to be described.

A top supplemental rack portion is provided which in this instance, also, is rectangular in form and comprises a frame 4 braced by rods 5 which may be parallel to the rods 2 of the main rack portion 1, 2, 3, and braced also by lateral rods 6, all of the rods of both rack portions being preferably electrically welded in position at their ends. At least two of the rods 5 extend beyond the limits of one end of the frame 4 and eyes 5' formed thereon take around the upper portion or yoke of themain frame 1 in such manner as to hingedly connect the two rack portions,it

being understood, however, that the hinged connection may be otherwise created.

Aprop or support is provided for the main rackportion 1 which may comprise a pair of rods 7 connected by cross rods 8, for example, the upper end of each rod 7 having an eye to engage a suitable part of the main rack by taking around a rod 3', for example, thus hingedly joining the thus constructed support to said main rack portion. Any suitable link may connect the support? 8 to the said main rack portion. This may be a member 10 taking around one of the rods 3 of the said portion and provided with a hook 11 to engage a part of said support such as a bail 12 or some other portion.

It is the desire to flx the upper or top rack portion 4, 5, 6 at any desired angle with respect to the main portion 1, 2, 3, or in the same plane therewith, and to provide for loeating it in a horizontal plane, all to the end that a floral piece mounted on said portion 4, 5, 6 may be disposed in the most advantageous position for display and for its decorative effect, depending upon the form or nature of such floral piece. That any such position may be had there is provided a separate support for such portion 4, 5, 6 which in this instance consists of a pair of rods '13 connected by brace-rods 14, the upper ends of the former each having an eye 15 to engage loosely around one of the rods 6 of said portion 4, 5, 6, the other ends of the rods being suitably supported by any one of the rods 8 of the support 7, 8, for example, which rods in some of the claims I shall refer to as abutments for the sake of brevity and clarity.

In order to have a form of attaching means that willnot be released by accident there is shown in Figures 6 and 7 a U-shaped member to the ends of which the rods 13 are affixed, as by welding, said member 15 being adapted, due to its form, to engage and lie astride any one of the rods 8. Slidable upon the rods 13 is a keeper 16 the parts .17

V of which when engaged at one side of the rod 8 effectually prevents separation of the parts named. While I have shown but two positions of the portion 4, 5, 6 it is obvious that the support 13, 14 for the latter.- may be supported from any one of the rods 8 according to the position it is desired that the said POItlOIl -lS-tO have with respect to the main .rack portion.

In displaying floral, pieces on racks of this type quite often it has been found that certain .forms of these pieces can be best shown in ahorizontal or substantially horizontal position when massed with flat pieces which are supported in position upon the usual finger-s16 common to some racks; That such pieces, can ,be accommodated in the best manner, therefore, I provide a shelf that can be hu ng upon some part of the main rack portion 1, 2, 3 at any desired height or location laterally ofsaid' portion. Herein, he shelf comprises a fraine 17and bracing rods 18, the extremities of the frame having eyes 19 gtak-ingaround a rod 20 aflixed to a U-shaped frame-21 terminating in hooks 22 which may be hung upon any. one of the rods 3 of said main rackportion found most suitable for a given display The frame 21 lies against the rods 2, 3 and'a support consisting of rods 23 braced by rods 24, for example, is hingedly connectedat 25 to the frame 21 while tie rods 24 at their other ends have eyes 26 slidablyengaging certain of the rods 18 of the shelf 17 18. It isto be understood that the formof the attachment including said shelf may be changed to suit the idea of the -manufacturer and that I do not, therefore,

confine myselftothe exact structure shown.

preferably make the shelf structure, however, so that it. can be collapsed and'made to 1-ie fiat as inFigure 3 for easy storage and shipment. And in thisconnection it is to be noted that due to the construction of the rack itself, all of the-parts shown can be made to lie flat upon each other due to the ability to collapse them.

' The fingers 16 mentioned have eyes 16 taking around the. rods 3 or 6, as the case may :be, and are connected by a rod 16 which as shown in Figure 5 limits the swinging move ment of the fingers by engaging the rods 2 or 5 as the case may be. I It is now seen that I provide a rack for the purpose named that has several important advantages in that various adjustments are possible in providing for mounting and displaying such. types of floral pieces that That is to say, when said portion is disposed at the top of the. rack 1, 2, 3 at an angle to the plane thereof, often a stiff appearance of a display can be softened while when said portion is disposed horizontally it is extremely convenient for treating a display in the best possible manner besides admittmg of supporting certain forms of pieces that could not otherwise be accommodated, at least to the best advantage. And it is here that the positive latch arrangement 15, 16 is of considerable value in that there is no chance for a display once set up on the supplemental rack portion to be accidently disarranged as would result were the support 13, 14 to leave the support 7, 8.

While I use the said support 7, 8 as the portion upon which to rest the support 13,

14, it is to be understood that the latter sup-z port may be otherwise held i. e., on any other part of the rack structure. While said support 13, 1 1 might rest upon the floor its connection with some part of the rack structure is desirable since the complete rack may be easily moved about as a rigid unit.

I claim 1. In a floral rack, the combination with a main portion presenting a substantially flat front face upon which to dispose floral pieces, and a prop at its rear side for supporting it in an upright position, said prop including members disposed at different heights thereon, of a supplemental substantially flat frame hingedly attached to the said main portion,

the plane of which is adapted to lie in the same plane with the said main portion, or at .an angle to said portion rearwardly, and a support engaging both the said supplemental frame andpart of the prop adapted by an adjustment with respect to the said members of the latter to maintain the said supplemental frame in either of the named positions.

2. In a floral rack, the combination with a main portion presenting a substantially flat front face upon which to dispose floral pieces, and a prop at its rear side for supporting it in an upright position, said prop havinga series of members arranged at. difi'erent heights thereon, of a supplemental substantially flat frame hingedly attached to the said main portion, the plane of said supplemental frame adapted to lie either in the same plane with said main portion or at an angle thereto rearwardly, and a support engaging at one end the said supplemental frame between its ends, and at its other end adapted to engage any one of said series of members and being of a length to maintain the said supplemental frame in its said raised position or in a lowered position.

3. In a floral rack, the combination with a main portion comprising a frame and cross members therefor forming a flat structure presenting a free front face upon which to dispose floral pieces, and a prop connected to the said portion including a series of members each of a different height thereon, said prop supporting the main portion in substantially an upright position, of a supplemental frame hinged at one edge to and terminating the top of said main portion adapted to lie both in the same plane with said portion and to project rearwardly from the same in substantially a horizontal position in the erected position of the rack, and a sup port extending between the prop and said suplemental frame, hingedly attached to the latter and adapted to be lodged upon one of the members of the prop for supporting the said supplemental frame in a given position.

4. In a floral rack, the combination with a rack structure comprising a main frame including crossed members forming a flat structure presenting a free front face upon which to dispose floral pieces, and a prop hinged to the rear side of the frame for supporting the latter in substantially an upright position, said prop including a series of members at different heights thereon, of a supplemental frame hinged to and terminating the top of the said main frame adapted to lie in the same plane therewith, and also at an angle thereto rearwardly, and a support hinged to said supplemental frame and adapted for selective engagement with the said members of the prop whereby to support said supplemental frame in a given position with respect to the main frame including the position first described.

5. In a latch for holding in connected relation two separable parts of a floral rack, the combination of a member to be supported, a U-shaped member mounted thereon, a supporting member including a part to be received into the said U-shaped member, and a movable latch carried by the first named member adapted to close the opening of the U-shaped member for retaining the supporting member Within the latter.

6. In a floral rack, the combination with a supplemental rack portion and a part upon which it is to be supported, said part consisting of a rod of a main rack portion, of a rod 

